To 5k and beyond

[Roadrunner65]

Fellow runners, 5k is well and truly embedded and yesterday morning, mid-run, I felt confident that I could progress a little further. Don't get me wrong, the old legs were tired, but I have a lot to think about and am thankful for the head space, as well as the physical benefits that running now gives me.

So with lots on my mind, I thought I'd push on to 5.5k, to give myself more thinking time. It doesn't sound a lot more when you just say it, but it is when psychologically mind and body only expects 5k, at best!

I pushed on, fully aware that I was going outside of my comfort zone, but was appreciating it, thankful for the opportunity to think and how good C25K has been for me.

With tunes in my ears and thoughts going on in my head, when I took a look at Strava, it was 5.68k done! My focus then immediately switched to 6k.

Could I? Should I?

When I realised I'd passed my new target I immediately felt the heaviness in my legs and became very conscious of the effort that I was putting in.

But the teachings of C25K has giving me the know how and the confidence to manage my run, and myself.

I slowed, breathed deep, relaxed, said it's ok if you don't make it, you've run your furthest ever!

One more track from the playlist would see me over the line. And so it did... 6k under my belt, or feet. It wasn't easy, but I was not in any real discomfort. Yes I was tired, the legs had to work really hard and they were letting me know it. I felt amazing though.

And after the brisk 5 minute warm down walk, I felt even better, mentally and physically.

So that is it now, for the foreseeable future... 6k until such time my mind and body says 'Ok, let's go to 6.5k', which would be several weeks away, if not more, and if at all. Or 'let's stick with 5k, you like that after all'.

Mind and body are in unison now. Whenever mind demons try to creep in, to tell me to quit, I can swipe them away in just a few strides now, and it's great.

Thank you C25K.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done, but please be aware of the 10% rule to keep increase in weekly training load at a safe level.

It really is better to plan those longer runs into a programme, rather than push on to possibly dangerous increase.

Injury strikes out of the blue.

[Roadrunner65 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you IannodaTruffe, your advice is most helpful as ever.